Overhead door



Oct. 25, 1938. CLARK 2,134,397

OVERHEAD-DOOR Filed Sept. 28, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H.B. CLARK OVERHEAD DOOR Filed Sept. 28, 1936 Oct. 25, 1938.

A RNE'Y Oct. 25, 1938. H. B. CLARK OVERHEAD DOOR Filed Sept. 28, 1956 5Sheets-Shet 5 ATTOQZEY H. B. CLARK OVERHEAD DOOR Oct. 25, 1938.

Filed Sept. 28, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTO AM TORNEY H. B. CLARK Oct.25,1938.

OVERHEAD DOOR Filed Sept. 28, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 x T H V m w N N 1 II m m li m W 11'. 0 1 I A l w 4 w M W A z fl w. H w w J m l M v v I U 1.I N w M Q l w k n m 1 1 lllll I I n? M 1 w/ mm I||| i 0 w J w W M 4 4 WW I I-.. I. 5 iv x w LT 1d 2 z Patented Oct. 25', 1938 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE This invention relates in general to doors of theso-called overhead type. These doors usually include a plurality ofpanel sections hingedly connected at their edges on horizontal axes sothat the panel sections may be arranged in a common plane in a dooropening for closing the door and may pivotally relatively move to permitraising of the panel sections and movement thereof from the verticalplane into a horizontal .plane overhead for opening the doors, the panelsections being mounted on rollers running in tracks.

A door of this type to be satisfactory must be strong and durable toresist pressure normal to the planes of the panel sections and alsowithstand tension in the planes of the panel sections incident toopening and closing of the doors. Furthermore, the doors must be capabletoeasy and quick operation. Known doors of this type have generally beenconstructed ofheavy material in order to provide adequate strength anddurability, but such structures are necessarily heavy so as to entaildifficult operation, and are also expensive to manufacture and install.

One object of my invention is to provide an overhead door which shall belight in weight to insure easy operation, shall be strong and durable,and shall be inexpensive to construct and install.

Another object is-to provide a novel and improved structure of doorpanel section and a novel and improved structure and combination of ahinge and roller mounting with such door panel sections whereby the doorshall be strong, easy to assemble and light in weight.

A further object is to provide such a door which shall include a. noveland improved hinge for connecting the panel sections which shallcomprise two complemental U-shaped sections to be applied to adjacentpanel sections and which can be easily and quickly pivotally connectedto each other by simple insertion-of a pintle for assembly of the panelsections into a door.

Other objects are to provide a novel and improved structure for overheaddoors whereby the hinges may be applied to the panel sections at thefactory and panel sections may be coupled easily and quickly at the siteof installation; to provide a novel and improved combined hinge androller mounting wherein the hinge pintle shall also serve as an axle fora roller; to provide a novel and improved door panel section structurewhich shall be light in weight and inexpensive, and to obtain otheradvantages and results as will be brought out by the followingdescription.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding and likeparts are desig- 5 nated throughout the several views by the samereference characters Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of an overheaddoor embodying my invention showing the door in closed position.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3-of Figure 1.Figure 4 is a sectional view on anenlarged 16 scale taken on the line4-4 of Figure 1. v

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure1.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the hinge shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view'taken on the lineI-| of Figure l.

Figure 8 is a front elevational view partially in section of thestructure shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing 25 a modification of thehinge.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing another form of a hingeand roller mounting.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional perspec-' tive view of one cornerof one door panel section. 30

Figure 11A is a sectional view on the line llA-IIA of Figure 11.

Figures 12 and 13 are schematic sectional views showing the manner ofassembling the panel sections in the tracks.

Figure 14 is a front elevational view of another form ofhinge and rollermounting.

Figure 15 is a horizontal sectional view on the line l5l5 of Figure 14.

'Figures 16' and 17 are fragmentary transverse sectional views showingthe hinging relation of the panel sections illustrated in Figure 14.

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 16 showing a modified formaof theinvention including a weather strip. 45

Figure 19 is a composite sectional perspective view of the form shown inFigure 18. g

Figure 20 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 20-20 of Figure 18.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a modified form ofdoor.

Figures 22 and 23 .are horizontal sectional views on the lines 2222 and2323, respectively, of Figure 21, and

Figure 24 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a modification ofthe door structure.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures1 to 13 inclusive, the door comprises a plurality of panel sections Apreferably formed of wood. Each panel section includes a pair of stilesl and a pair of rails 2. At one side of the panel section the stiles andrails have undercut rabbets 3 and 4 respectively in which is set a panel5 preferably formed of ply wood. The adjoining ends of the stiles andrails are interlocked or mortised as at 6, and preferably muntins Iextend across the front or face of the panel 5 between the rails 2 andpreferably have mortise and tenon joints 9 with the respective rails.These muntins both reenforce the panel 5 and provide an ornamentalappearance. With this structure, the door panel sections l maybe lightin weight and inexpensive, especially as compared with known door panelsections wherein the panels corresponding to the panels 5 are set ingrooves disposed intermediate the front and rear sides of the stiles andrails.

For reenforcing the panel sections l and attaching hinges and rollermountings to the panel sections, I apply an angle bar 9, preferably ofmetal, to each rail 2 of each panel section. Preferably the angle barshave one flange 9 secured to the panel section and extending inwardlythereof from the edges of the section, screws 9 passing through theangle bars, the rails and the respective panels 5 to reenforce theattachment of the panels to the sections I. The other flanges 9 of theangle bars project perpendicularly from the rear sides of the panelsections.

Secured to the flanges 9 of the respective angle bars are the sectionsof hinges and roller mountings. As shown, the hinge sections [0 may beidentical and each comprises an approximately U-shaped strip of metalhaving its base portion H secured as by welding or riveting to thecorresponding flange 9 and its arms I2 projecting toward the edge of therespective panel section. The arms I2 of the complemental sections H!are adapted to be juxtaposed in assembly and have alined openings 13 toreceive a hinge pintle I l. The hinge pintles may also serve as the axlefor rollers IS on the hinges at the ends of the panel sections. Ifdesired the pintle for the end hinge may consist of a tube iii in whichthe axle [1-01 the rollers may be fitted, and one end of the pintle tubel6 may serve as a receptacle for a wad of porous material l8 saturatedwith lubricant and held in position bya removable cap l9, where-,- bythe axle I! may be constantly lubricated.

' While preferably the hinges are also located at the middle of thepanel sections, it will be understood that the hinges may be arranged inany suitable locations.

Each pair of angle bars 9 for connecting adjoining sections and thehinges associated with said pair of angle bars, together constitute aconstruction unit. The angle bars with the associated hinge sections maybe assembled on the panel sections at the factory and the panel sectionsmay be' connected together at the site of installation by the simpleinsertion of the hinge pintles M. It will be observed that the flange 9of each angle bar normally is spaced from and parallel to thecorresponding flange of the other bar, while the other flanges 9* aredisposed in parallel planes as shown in Figure 6 and the hinge sectionsare connected to the first-mentioned flanges 9.

The upper and lower panel sections will require only one hinge sectionat each end of the corresponding panel to serve as a support for theroller axle.

In installing the door, a track 20 is mounted at each vertical side ofthe door opening and includes a vertical leg 2| extending throughout theheight of the door opening and a horizontal leg 22 disposed above thedoor opening.

In assembling the panel sections in the tracks, the roller axlescarrying the rollers will be inserted in the hinge sections at thebottom edge of the lowermost panel section X and the rollers will thenhe slipped into the horizontal legs 22 of the tracks as shown in Figure12. The next P nel section Y will then be connected to the free edge ofthe lower panel section by slipping the hinge pintlesand roller axlesthrough the openings l3 of the complemental hinge sections, as shown inFigure 12. Then the lower section X shown in' Figure 12 is swunghorizontally and the rollers connecting said lower section with the nextsection are slipped into the tracks. The other sections are thenarranged in the same manner until the complete door has been assembled,whereupon the sections may be slid along the tracks as shown in Figure13.

As usual, the door will be counterbalanced as by a chain 23 connected atone end as at 24 to a bracket at the lower edge of the lower section Xat each end thereof, which chains pass over corresponding guide rollers25 and 26 and have their other ends connected to a fixed support, forexample in horizontal portion of the corresponding track 20. The rollers26 float and are connected to the ends of the corresponding tensionsprings 21 the other ends of which are attached to a fixed support suchas the track mounting 28.

In operation of the door, the panel sections may he slid along thetracks 2! either manually as through a handle 29 at the front of thedoor and a pull cord 30 at the rear of the door, or by automatic means,to locate the panel sections across the door opening to close the dooror move them into the horizontal portions of the tracks to open thedoor.

In the form of hinge and roller mounting so far described, the hingepintles and roller axles are coaxial in the respective hinges anddisposed approximately along. the line of the joint between the adjacentpanel sections i connected by the hinges. In Figure 10 a modification ofthe hinge and roller mounting is shown wherein the hinge sections 3| and32 are in general the same as the hinge sections I0, but the arms of oneof the sections are longer than the arms of the other section. The armsof the two sections are formed with registering openings to receive thehinge pintles 33 and the section having the longer arms is provided withopenings in its arms beyond the extremities of the arms of the othersection to receive a separate roller axle 34. With this construction,the axis of the hinge pintle lies approximately in the same plane withthe joint between the panel sections, while the roller axle is disposedat one side of said joint.

If desired, the hinges may be covered by cover plates 35 secured to theangle bars 9 as shown in' In this,

. hingeand roller axle. The bases 38 of the hinge sections are securedto the flanges of the angle bars 38 which lie along the sides of thepanel sections with the arms is projecting perpendicularly to the planeor the corresponding panel section. The openings 40 are so arranged thatwhen the complemental hinge sections of a hinge are connected by thehinge pintle, the axis of the pintle is approximately in the same planeas the meeting edges of the adjacent pan'el sections.

The angle bars 3 reeniorce the panel sections as do the-angle bars 8,but do not project materially beyond the surface of the panel sections.

so as to provide a neater appearance. Also, the angle bars 36 reeniorcethe adjoining edges of the adjacent sections which the angle bars 9 dowith the angle bars as .shown in Figures 18 to 20 inclusive. Here theangle bar 4 I on one panel section extends along the edge of the panelsection and has a seat 43 for a weather strip 44. The angle bar 45 onthe adjoining panel section may also have one flange 46 extending alongthe edge of the corresponding section to cooperate with the weatherstrip 44 to make a weathertight joint between the two panel sections.

Where automatic door opening mechanism is utilized, the door operator isusually connected to the top section of the door as indicated at 41 inFigure 24. Under these conditions, it may be desirable to reenforce thecentral zones of the door panels by securing a. metal strap 48 to theangle bars 9 of each panel section, as by welding or riveting, so thatsaid straps assist in assuming the strainsjncident to raising andlowering of the panel sections.

The invention also contemplates door panel sections formed of metal asshown in Figures 21 to 23 inclusive. In this form of the invention, eachdoor panel section may comprise a frame having stiles 49 and rafls 50formed .01 metal such as angle bars with one flange disposedperpendicularly to the plane of the panel, and may comprise one piece ofmaterial or a plurality of pieces welded or riveted together. Within theflanges of the stiles and rails may be secured a panel of metal. Withthis form of the invention the hinges may be applied directly to themetal frame of the door section.

It is also possible to provide glass panels in the door sections asshown in Figures 21 and 22. The door section may have a frame comprisingrails and stiles identical with the rails and stiles 49 and 50, and withone flange of each rail and the stile disposed perpendicularly to theplane of. the section. Metal muntin strips 52 may be secured to theother flanges of the rafls to form 3 seats for glass panes it. The panesmay be held in position by separable clamping straps 84 secured to thestiles. and the muntins by bolts or screws ll.

Other modiflcations and changes in the details of structure of the doorsections, hinges and roller mountings will occur to those skilled in theart as within the scope of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1 A construction unit for overhead doors comprising a pair of metalbars, each to be connected to one of two adjoining panels of an overheaddoor near, parallel to and extending approximately throughout the lengthor the edge of the panel to adjoin the other panel, and hinges spacedlongitudinally of said bars and each in-.

cluding two hingedly connected sections each 01 which is directlyiastened on one of said bars.

2. The unit'set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said bars is an anglebar and'each of said hinges includes two U-shaped sections each havingits base directly secured to one flange of the corresponding angle barand its arms juxtaposed to the arms of the other section, the arms ofeach section having pintle openings'registering with the openings of theother section, and a pintle fitted in said openings of each hinge.

3. The unit set forth in claim 1 wherein said metal bars are angle barsnormally disposed with one flange of each in a common plane with oneflange of the other and the other flanges in approximately abuttingparallel relation, and the hinge sections are secured directly to thefirst-mentioned flanges of the respective bars.

a 4. The unit set forth in claim 1 wherein said metal bars are anglebars normally disposed with one flange of each spaced i'romand parallelto one flange of the other and the other flanges in parallel planes, andthe hinge sections are secured directly to the first-mentioned flangesof the respective bars.

5. An overhead door comprising a plurality oi panels, anangle barsecured to one side of each panel near and parallel to and extendingapproximately throughout the length of the edge' thereof adjoining thenext adjacent panel, with one flange disposed perpendicularly to theplane of the panel, hinges connecting adjacent panels each including twoU-shaped sections each of which has its base secured to the angle bar ofone of said adjacent panels and its arms juxtaposed to the arms of theother section, the arms of each section of each hinge having pintleopenings registering with the openings of the other section, and a hingepintle fltted in said openings oi each hinge.

6. The overhead door set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said anglebars has one flange panel, and hinges connecting adjacent panels eachincluding two U-shaped sections one of which has its base secured to thefirst-mentioned flange of the angle bar of each of said adjacent panelsand its arms juxtaposed to the arms of the other section, the arms ofeach section of 7 each hinge having pintle openings registering with theopenings of the other section, and a hinge pintle fitted h said openingsof each hinge.

8. An overhead door comprising a plurality of wooden panels and a metalangle bar secured to of each hinge.

9. An overhead door comprising a plurality oi panels, an angle barsecured to one side of each panel with one flange abutting said side ofthe panel and the other side abutting and extending approximatelythroughout the length of the edge of said panel adjoining the nextadjacent panel, and hinges connecting adjacent panels each including twosections one oi. which is secured directly to the first-mentioned flangeof the angle bar oi. each of said adjacent panels, each section of eachhinge having pintle openings registering with the openings of the othersection, and a' hinge pintle fitted in said openings of each hinge.

' HENRY B. CLARK.

